World Environment Day: Beyond Plantation Drives and Seminars

JAIRAJ CHHETRY

As the world observed World Environment Day on June 5 , it is an appropriate occasion to reflect honestly on the state of our environment and the gap between our promises and our actions.

Every year on 5th June, we witness plantation drives, awareness rallies, seminars, speeches, and social media campaigns. Saplings are planted, photographs are taken, and commitments are made to protect nature. For a day, environmental conservation becomes everyone's concern. Yet one question remains unanswered: What happens during the remaining 364 days of the year?

Sikkim is often celebrated as one of India's most environmentally conscious states. The state has banned plastic carry bags, promotes organic farming, and possesses an impressive forest cover. According to the latest India State of Forest Report (ISFR 2023), Sikkim has a forest cover of 3,358.40 sq. km, accounting for 47.33% of its geographical area. Moreover, over 82% of the state's land area is under the administrative control of the Forest Department. These achievements deserve recognition.

However, the environmental story of Sikkim is not entirely one of success. Despite its green image, the state faces growing ecological challenges. Studies indicate that Sikkim had about 350,000 hectares of natural forest in 2020, covering nearly 49% of its land area. Yet forest loss continues, with hundreds of hectares of natural forest being lost in recent years due to developmental pressures, natural disasters, and changing land-use patterns.

The condition of the Teesta River, the lifeline of Sikkim, is another cause for concern. Experts have highlighted increasing pressures from untreated sewage, plastic waste, sedimentation, hydropower activities, and rapid urbanization. The devastating Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) of 2023 further demonstrated the fragility of the Himalayan ecosystem and the vulnerability of infrastructure in environmentally sensitive regions.  Urbanization is creating additional environmental stress. Studies on Gangtok have shown a steady increase in solid waste generation due to population growth, tourism, and changing lifestyles. Waste management remains a challenge in many urban and semi-urban areas. Government reports have also emphasized the need for improved waste disposal systems and better protection of rivers and water bodies from pollution. These challenges are not unique to Sikkim. Across India, forests are under pressure, rivers remain polluted, and excessive dependence on chemical fertilizers continues to degrade soil health and water quality. Climate change is intensifying floods, landslides, droughts, and extreme weather events.

What is particularly disappointing is that environmental concern often ends with seminars and celebrations. Resolutions are passed, certificates are distributed, and photographs are published. Yet the desired results remain elusive.

Planting a sapling is easy.

Protecting it from grazing animals, watering it during dry periods, and ensuring its survival for the next few years is far more difficult.

The success of a plantation drive should not be measured by the number of saplings planted but by the number of trees that survive and grow.

As citizens, we need not wait for governments, institutions, or large organizations to act first. Environmental conservation can begin from our own doorstep and within our own locality. Proper waste management, protection of water sources, care for planted saplings, and community participation can collectively bring about meaningful change.

Nature does not need more speeches. It needs sincere action.

As we celebrate World Environment Day, let us ask ourselves a simple question:

Is Environment Day merely about planting a sapling once a year, or is it about caring for it on the other 364 days?

Let us become part of a rational movement to conserve our environment rather than reducing it to a yearly affair. Environmental conservation begins at our doorstep and in our locality, not merely in seminars, speeches, and annual celebrations.

The answer to this question may reveal how serious we truly are about protecting our environment and the future of generations yet to come.

(Views are personal. Email: jchhetry@ymail.com)